Massachusetts reporter Joe Reppucci's news and resources for those who love pets

Dogs feel no guilt about misbehaving

About this blog

Joe Reppucci of Lexington, Mass., writes about dogs and keeping them a healthy part of the family. He has worked as a reporter and editor on major daily newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years and is a graduate of Lexington High School
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Joe Reppucci of Lexington, Mass., writes about dogs and keeping them a healthy part of the family. He has worked as a reporter and editor on major daily newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years and is a graduate of Lexington High School and of Suffolk University in Boston. He writes often about nutrition, behavior and saving money on pet supplies and insurance.

Your dog has a "guilty look" on his face and you are certain your pet has misbehaved in some way, so you give him a stern warning while searching for evidence of the forbidden deed. You check the trash barrel, look for creases on the bed spread and examine the latch on the food bin to see if your dog has gotten into some of those off-limits places, but you find no wrongdoing. So why does your dog have that guilty look even though he is innocent? He is simply ...CONTINUE READING

An animal welfare organization is urging those who have already adopted or who are unable to adopt to consider becoming a foster pet parent, volunteering at shelters and donating food or money to humane societies. Read report

An animal behavioral expert says pet parents need to understand the subtle ways that dogs communicate their frustrations, dislikes and fears and take remedial action before the behavior escalates into biting. Read report

Food:Here's a better way to feed your petSome 40 percent of dogs and cats suffer from gastrointestinal problemssuch as stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea, according to a survey by Nestlé Purina. Some problems can be caused by food quality, but those pet parents who focus solely on the food may be overlooking the many of the other causes of gastrointestinal troubles. Read report

The Border Collies, crammed into waste-filled cages in a barn strewn with decaying bodies of vermin, were seized from a breeder in what is being described as one of the nastiest puppy mills ever encountered in Tennessee. Read reportMore reports about RESCUE

A survey has found that the leading causes of plant-related poisonings in pets is grapes/raisins, mushrooms and marijuana. Grapes/raisins are so toxic that even a tiny number can cause acute renal failure in dogs and cats. Read report